Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 56

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

किंचिदुन्नामितशिरा दंतैर्दंतान्न संस्पृशेत् । दंताग्रसंस्थिता जिह्वामचलां सन्निवेश्य च

Transliteration

kiṃcidunnāmitaśirā daṃtairdaṃtānna saṃspṛśet | daṃtāgrasaṃsthitā jihvāmacalāṃ sanniveśya ca

Translation

Mit leicht erhobenem Kopf soll man die Zähne nicht aufeinanderstoßen lassen. Die Zunge fest an den Zahnspitzen ruhend, halte man sie unbeweglich.

Word by Word

• kiṃcit: slightly
• kiṃcit: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; degree)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃcit (किञ्चित्)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय; परिमाण/अल्पता)

• unnāmita-śirāḥ: with head slightly raised
• unnāmita-śirāḥ: Karta (कर्ता; subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-√nam (धातु) + -ita (क्त) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि with past passive participle (क्त) ‘whose head is raised’

• daṃtaiḥ: with the teeth
• daṃtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• dantān: the teeth (other teeth)
• dantān: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध; negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (न)
• Form: Particle of negation (निषेध)

• saṃspṛśet: should touch
• saṃspṛśet: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; from √spṛś (स्पृश्) with prefix sam-, ‘should touch’

• daṃtāgra-saṃsthitā: placed at the teeth-tips
• daṃtāgra-saṃsthitā: Karta (कर्ता; subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃ-√sthā (धातु) + -ita (क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष ‘situated at the tip of the teeth’; PPP (क्त) from sam-√sthā

• jihvām: the tongue
• jihvām: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• acalām: steady, unmoving
• acalām: Karma (कर्म; object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-calā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘immobile/steady’

• sanniveśya: having placed
• sanniveśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ni-√viś (धातु) + -ya (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त), from √viś (विश्) with prefixes sam+ni-, ‘having placed/settled’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय; coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches bodily stillness and sensory restraint as a foundation for dhyāna—quieting agitation so awareness can turn toward Pati (Shiva) rather than outward to pasha (bondage).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Such posture discipline supports focused japa and one-pointed contemplation of Shiva’s saguna form (including the Linga), helping the mind remain steady and devotional without distraction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical meditation cue: keep the head slightly lifted, relax the jaw so teeth do not press together, and hold the tongue steady near the teeth—supporting calm breath and stable mantra-recitation (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya).